Queermisia

Warning:This article contains discussion of topics which may be upsetting to some readers. This article is intended to be educational but reader discretion is advised.

Queerphobia, also known as Queermisia or LGBTQ+phobia, is the act of discriminating and behaving in a hateful manner towards those who are LGBTQ+/queer. This is most often done by conformant individuals; however, it is fully possible for someone in the LGBT+ community to be queerphobic in some way, shape, or form towards another identity (or even towards an identity they share). Those who are queerphobic are known as Queerphobes.

Queerphobia can be found in many forms and can cause trauma, mental health issues, physical harm, homelessness, unemployment, death, and many other threatening concepts. Those who are queerphobic do not have to be blatant with their discriminatory behavior. While some may use slurs, harass, abuse, and similar, others may be silently or quietly judgmental and may have negative opinions on someone purely based on their attraction, gender, identity, and/or sex traits.

Queerphobia can affect any member of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as anyone perceived to be queer/exhibiting what is perceived as "queer attributes" in some form, and potentially anyone who otherwise stands in support of, or is associated with, queerness/queer communities.

Examples of queerphobic actions and perceptions that can affect any member of the LGBTQ+/queer communities are (but are not limited to):

• Using harmful terminology.
• Using queerphobic slurs (in any context or form) that one cannot reclaim and/or using said slurs casually/as insults.
• Harassing/threatening/mocking/intimidating queer individuals while motivated in some way by said individual's queerness, whether online or face-to-face.
• Assaulting/otherwise committing acts of violence against individuals who are, or who are perceived/assumed to be, queer in some form.
• Treating queer individuals differently than conformant individuals/offering queer individuals less than conformant individuals.
• Perceiving queer individuals, or individuals of certain queer identities, as a monolith.
• Attempting to "correct" queerness in any form (by means of, for example, conversion therapy, "corrective" rape/physical abuse).
• Seeing any signs of perceived queerness as something inherently negative.
• Disowning queer individuals, rendering queer individuals homeless, or threatening queer young individuals with loss of their home/basic needs/familial support and relationships due to being queer.
• Ceasing contact with queer individuals after finding out they are queer.
• Using religion or spirituality as an excuse to harm/exclude queer individuals.
• Saying stuff such as "it's alright to be queer, just not around kids" or "it's alright to be queer, I just don't think queers should get married."
• Gaslighting/denying the experiences of queer individuals, and claiming that they are "not real," a "lifestyle", a "choice," "just want to sin," or anything similar.
• Harassing and convincing queer individuals that they are "broken" or have a disorder/disability purely because of their queerness.
• Fetishizing/sexualizing/romanticizing individuals purely due to their queerness/queer traits.
• Opposing/dismissing need for progress for queer visibility and rights. For example, arguing against the existence of Pride Parades, or claiming that queerphobia is not an important issue.
• Expressing distaste/annoyance at increased visibility of queer folk. This may apply to media (when one is annoyed at increased representation of queer folk itself rather than simply having critiques of any given piece of media that happens to present queer experiences in some way). For example, being "sick of seeing all these gay folks," expressing distaste at the presence of queer relationships, claims that visibility of queer experiences is "pushing an agenda."
• Accusing someone who talks openly about being queer/their queer crushes/experiences of "going on about being gay" or being attention-seeking when one would not have an issue with a straight individual discussing the same topics, thinking that someone is talking about themselves "being gay" rather than acknowledging the individual's actual experiences and feelings, and expressing annoyance or being dismissive/condescending if someone expresses attraction to someone of a same/similar gender.
• Being scared of being perceived as queer by others. For example, a man afraid of doing certain things that are traditionally viewed as feminine or complimenting other men, for fear of "appearing gay."
• Not acknowledging queerphobic behavior in others, refusing to stand up for queer rights, or refusing to speak out when someone else is acting in a queerphobic manner, especially when due to not wanting to link oneself to the LGBTQIA2+ movement (for reasons other than one's own safety).
• Spreading queerphobic and false conspiracy theories about queer people.
• Accusing those who are queer of being predators and/or criminals and treating them as if they are dangerous.

There are other, more specific forms of queerphobia that are discussed on this page; however, the examples above can apply to all/almost all queer identities.

Oppression to Orientation

Homophobia

Homophobia is dislike of or prejudice against those who are gay (or who one assumes is gay). Lesbophobia is the same thing, but specifically against lesbians. Gayphobia is the same thing, but specifically against gay men. Homophobia is not exclusively against gays/lesbians and is more of a general term for anyone who is attracted to the same gender/a similar gender. This means that some m-spec individuals can face homophobia as well. Similarly, some gays/lesbians are m-spec in attraction and may classify themselves as such.

Some behaviors that perpetuate homophobia include the following:

• Calling a gay individual “too gay” or “not gay enough” based on stereotypes.
• Automatically assuming gay individuals are hitting on someone if they are of the same gender.
• Treating male vincians as "less of a man" and female lesbians as "not a true woman" due to their same-gender attractions.
• Comitting hate crimes against gay people.
• Pressuring gay individuals to "just try" dating a gender they are not attracted to.
• Assuming gay individuals must be attracted to every other gay individual, and calling them "too picky" if they don't want to date the other gay individual because "they're both gay."
• Avoiding behaviors that "seem gay" and/or using "no homo" in a non-joking manner.

The list goes on; however, these are the most common forms of homophobia/lesbophobia. Everything on this list can also be done to non-gay individuals who fit gay stereotypes and/or are assumed to be gay.

Multiphobia

Multiphobia is the act of discriminating/oppressing those who are m-spec (or who one assumes is m-spec). This can be specified, falling under categories such as Biphobia, Panphobia, Omniphobia, Polyphobia, Abrophobia, etc.

Each m-spec orientation faces their own issues; however, the issues faced often overlap with all identities included. Some behaviors that perpetuate multiphobia include the following:

• Telling someone they are “just gay/lesbian,” “just straight,” in denial, and/or that they need to “pick a side” or “pick a gender.”
• Assuming someone is a cheater, less loyal, and/or more likely to cheat since they are attracted to multiple genders.
• Believing that attraction to multiple genders is "not possible/fake."
• Telling someone that their identity is just another m-spec identity (eg. “pansexual is just bisexual”).
• Assuming someone to be sleeping around/having sex with everyone purely based on being m-spec. Similarly, believing one “can’t know they are m-spec” if they haven’t had sex will all the genders they experience attraction towards.
• Assuming someone is attracted to all their friends/everyone they see due to being m-spec.
• Harassing someone due to them being pan/omni/poly/abro/m-spec and attempting to force someone to use the bi label, even if one does not feel it fits their experiences. Oftentimes, when they decline the bi label, the harasser ends up calling them biphobic or telling them they have “internalized biphobia.”
• Harassing someone because they use a lesser-known label and/or due to “using complicated/unneeded labels.”
• Harassing someone because they are abro (or have another fluid orientation) and have an “illogical” or “impossible” experience with attraction.

Everything on this list can also be done to mono individuals who fit m-spec stereotypes and/or are assumed to be m-spec.

Aphobia

Aphobia is the act of discriminating/oppressing those who are a-spec (or who one assumes is a-spec). The two categories that fall under this are Arophobia (oppression towards those on the aromantic spectrum) and Acephobia (oppression towards those on the asexual spectrum).

Some behaviors that perpetuate acephobia include the following:

• Telling someone that they are in denial of their sexuality and that sexual attraction is necessary/impossible not to have.
• Telling someone that they "can't know they are ace-spec" if they haven't had sex.
• Telling someone that they "can't be ace-spec" if they have sex.
• Telling someone that certain ace-spec identities (such as demisexuality) are "just being normal" and "don't need labels" or that they are "just picky."
• Telling someone that certain ace-spec identities (such as fictosexuality) are "impossible" or "illogical."
• Harassing someone if they are a minor identifying as ace-spec (even though sexual attraction is not the same as sexual activities).
• Telling someone that their sexual orientation is "just due to being rejected" or that they are "just saving themself for marriage."
• Telling someone that they just "haven't met the right one yet."
• Claiming that certain ace-spec labels are wrong such as claiming one who is autosexual is narcissistic (which is also ableist towards those with NPD), claiming that they are "self-absorbed" or "self-centered" and/or saying they are "incapable of real love."
• Treating someone with a sexual orientation related to their neurodivergence and/or disability as if it's an "excuse to romanticize/sexualize mental illness/disabilities," when in reality, they are simply trying to explain how their conditions are connected to their identity.
• Telling someone that they are “just a late bloomer.”

Some behaviors that perpetuate arophobia include the following:

• Telling someone that they are in denial of their orientation and that romantic attraction is necessary/impossible not to have.
• Telling someone that they "can't know they are aro-spec" if they haven't had tried dating/a relationship.
• Believing that someone is a "slut/whore" if they have sex and/or that they are only identifying as aro-spec as an excuse not to get committed in a relationship.
• Telling someone that certain aro-spec identities (such as demiromanticism) are "just being normal" and "don't need labels" or that they are "just picky."
• Claiming that certain aro-spec labels are wrong such as claiming one who is autoromantic is narcissistic (which is also ableist towards those with NPD), claiming that they are "self-absorbed" or "self-centered" and/or saying they are "incapable of real love."
• Telling someone that certain aro-spec identities (such as fictoromantic) are "impossible" or "illogical."
• Harassing someone and attempting to convince someone that they are "broken" or have a disorder/disability.
• Telling someone that their romantic orientation is "just due to being rejected" or that they just "haven't met the right one yet."
• Treating someone with a romantic orientation related to their neurodivergence and/or disability as if it's an "excuse to romanticize/sexualize mental illness/disabilities," when in reality, they are simply trying to explain how their conditions are connected to their identity.
• Telling someone that they are “just a late bloomer.”

Everything on this list can also be done to allo individuals who fit a-spec stereotypes and/or are assumed to be a-spec.

Tertiaryphobia

Tertiaryphobia or Tertiphobia is the act of discriminating/oppressing those who having a tertiary identity (or who one assumes has a tertiary identity). This can be specified, falling under categories such as Alterousphobia, Queerplatonicphobia/QPphobia, etc. This can overlap with aphobia.

Typically, tertiphobia comes from exclusionists within the LGBTQ+ community who see such attraction as illogical and/or useless to identify with. They may think that tertiary identities hold no importance in the LGBTQ+ community and that they are unnecessary.

Some behaviors that perpetuate tertiphobia include the following:

• Bashing/mocking someone for using an identity on the platonic spectrum and claiming that its "just wanting friends."
• Telling someone that queerplatonic, alterous, and similar attractions/relations are "just romantic," "just close friends," and/or "just friends with benefits."
• Claiming someone's experience with attraction is not possible due to the "lack of evidence" supporting it.
• Mocking specific tertiary microlabels (eg. aplatonic) for being "unnecessary."
• Telling someone that attraction can only be romantic/sexual and that other forms of attraction varying from that are "unrealistic" and/or "unproven."
• Telling someone who experiences Aesthetic Attraction that "they're essentially treating people like objects" when that's not always the case.

Everything on this list can also be done to non-tertiary identifying individuals who fit tertiary stereotypes and/or are assumed to be tertiary-identifying.

SAMphobia

SAMphobia is the act of discriminating/oppressing those who fall under the split attraction model. This is often practiced by those who cannot distinguish romantic and sexual attraction, and believe that because it's the same for them, it should be the same for everyone.

Some behaviors that perpetuate SAMphobia include the following:

• Gaslighting an individual into believing that they don't actually have split attraction and/or that they are "just confused."
• Believing that someone uses the SAM as an excuse to not be sexually involved with romantic partners and vice versa.
• Mocking someone's SAM identity (such as bi-lesbianism) due to it "not making sense."

Everything on this list can also be done to non-SAM identifying individuals who fit tertiary stereotypes and/or are assumed to be SAM-identifying.

Oppression to Gender

Transmisogyny/Transfeminine Transphobia

Transmisogyny/Transfeminine Transphobia is the dislike of or prejudice against those who are transfeminine (or who one assumes is transfeminine). Oftentimes, this is directed at trans women, but it can apply to other feminine cisn't identities (demigirls, fingender individuals, paragirls, etc).

Some behaviors that perpetuate transphobia towards transfeminine individuals include the following:

• Disallowing transfeminine individuals from using feminine spaces/products (female bathrooms, female dressing rooms, makeup, etc) due to them "not being real girls"/"not being girls." This also includes disallowing transfeminine individuals from expressing their femininity (for example, not allowing them to grow out their hair).
• Pressuring transfeminine individuals into using masculine spaces/products due to them "being male" and refusing to accept that their sex does not align with their gender.
• Purposefully using masculine-associated terminology/words (dude, bro, man, etc) in reference to transfeminine individuals, without checking to see if it makes them uncomfortable and/or ignoring their discomfort.
• Cishet men claiming that they "can't have sex" with someone who is transfeminine, purely based on the idea that it will make them "gayer" in some way, which perpetuates both homophobia and transphobia (as they are basically calling the individual a man). Similarly, gay cis women may do the same thing based on the idea that it will make them "straighter."
• Thinking that it's "okay to sleep with a transfeminine individual" as a cis straight girl because they are "male enough" (which invalidates their feminine gender).
• Claiming that one can "tell" who is and isn't transfeminine, based on harmful stereotypes of what transfeminine individuals are "supposed to look like." Similarly, the act of comparing transfeminine individuals to drag queens and gender non-conforming men (which once again implies that transfeminine individuals are "just men presenting femininely").
• Harassing transfeminine individuals about what genitals and/or other sex traits they have (regardless of whether or not they want sex reassignment surgery).
• Attempting to gaslight transfeminine individuals into believing that they are "just feminine men in denial" and/or that they are a "misled feminine gay male."
• Claiming that if a transfeminine individual presents masculinely, they can't be a "true" transfeminine individual. This also overlaps with GNCphobia.

Everything on this list can also be done to non-transfeminine individuals who fit transfeminine stereotypes and/or are assumed to be transfeminine-identifying.

Transmisandry/Transandrophobia/Transmasculine Transphobia

Transmisandry/Transandrophobia/Transmasculine Transphobia is the dislike of or prejudice against those who are transmasculine (or who one assumes is transmasculine.) Oftentimes, this is directed at trans men, but it can apply to other masculine cisn't identities (demiboys, mingender individuals, paraboys, etc).

Some behaviors that perpetuate transphobia towards transfeminine individuals include the following:

• Disallowing transmasculine individuals from using masculine spaces/products (male bathrooms, male dressing rooms, binders, etc) due to them "not being real boys"/"not being boys." This also includes disallowing transmasculine individuals from expressing their masculinity (for example, not allowing them to cut their hair).
• Pressuring transmasculine individuals into using feminine spaces/products due to them "being female" and refusing to accept that their assigned gender and/or sex does not align with their gender.
• Purposefully using feminine-associated terminology/words (girl, sis, queen, etc) in reference to transmasculine individuals, without checking to see if it makes them uncomfortable and/or ignoring their discomfort.
• Cishet women claiming that they "can't have sex" with someone who is transmasculine, purely based on the idea that it will make them "gayer" in some way, which perpetuates both homophobia and transphobia (as they are basically calling the individual a woman). Similarly, gay cis men may do the same thing based on the idea that it will make them "straighter."
• Thinking that it's "okay to sleep with a transmasculine individual" as a cis straight man because they are "female enough" (which invalidates their masculine gender).
• Claiming that one can "tell" who is and isn't transmasculine based on harmful stereotypes of what transmasculine individuals are "supposed to look like." Similarly, the act of comparing transmasculine individuals to drag kings and gender non-conforming women (which once again implies that transmasculine individuals are "just women presenting masculinely").
• Harassing transmasculine individuals about what genitals and/or other sex traits they have (regardless of whether or not they want sex reassignment surgery).
• Attempting to gaslight transmasculine individuals into believing that they are "just butch women in denial," that they are "misled lesbians," and/or that they have internalized misogyny that is causing them to identify masculinely.
• Claiming that if a transmasculine individual presents femininely they can't be a "true" transmasculine individual. This also overlaps with GNCphobia.

Everything on this list can also be done to non-transmasculine individuals who fit transmasculine stereotypes and/or are assumed to be transmasculine-identifying.

Transneutral/Transandrogynous Transphobia

Transneutral/Transandrogynous Transphobia is the dislike of or prejudice against those who are transneutral and/or transandrogynous (or who one assumes is transneutral/transandrogynous).

Some behaviors that perpetuate transphobia towards transneutral/transandrogynous individuals include the following:

• Disallowing transandrogynous/transneutral individuals from using their preferred spaces/products. This also includes disallowing transneutral/transandrogynous individuals from expressing their neutrality/androgynous traits (for example, not allowing them to wear a combination of masculine and feminine clothes).
• Pressuring transneutral/transandrogynous individuals into using masculine and/or feminine spaces/products due to them "being male/being female" and refusing to accept that their sex does not align with their gender.
• Purposefully using masculine-associated terminology/words (dude, bro, man, etc) and/or feminine-associated terminology/words (girl, sis, queen, etc) in reference to transneutral/transandrogynous individuals, without checking to see if it makes them uncomfortable and/or ignoring their discomfort.
• Thinking that it's "okay to sleep with a transandrogynous/transneutral individual" when their orientation does not (typically) include androgynous/neutral gendered individuals. For example, a straight man thinking it's okay to sleep with an AFAB androgyne individual because they are "female enough" (which invalidates their androgynous/neutral gender).
• Claiming that one can "tell" who is and isn't transneutral/transandrogynous, based on harmful stereotypes of what transneutral/transandrogynous individuals are "supposed to look like." Similarly, the act of comparing transneutral/transandrogynous individuals to drag performers and gender non-conforming men/women (which once again implies that transneutral/transandrogynous individuals are "just men presenting androgynously/neutrally" or "just women presenting androgynously/neutrally").
• Harassing transneutral/transandrogynous individuals about what genitals and/or other sex traits they have (regardless of whether or not they want sex reassignment surgery).
• Attempting to gaslight transneutral/transandrogynous individuals into believing that they are "just GNC men in denial," "just GNC women in denial," etc.
• Claiming that if a transneutral/transandrogynous individual presents masculinely/femininely, they can't be a "true" transneutral/transandrogynous individual. This also overlaps with GNCphobia.

Everything on this list can also be done to non-transneutral/transandrogynous individuals who fit transneutral/transandrogynous stereotypes and/or are assumed to be transneutral/transandrogynous-identifying.

Enbyphobia

Enbyphobia, also known as NBphobia, is the dislike of or prejudice against those who are non-binary (or who one assumes is non-binary). It is a form of transphobia. Some behaviors that perpetuate enbyphobia include the following:

• Disallowing non-binary individuals from using their preferred spaces/products This also includes disallowing non-binary individuals from expressing their gender in a way they prefer (such as getting a hair cut, binders, tucking pad, etc).
• Pressuring non-binary individuals into using spaces/products they do not prefer due to them "being female/male" and refusing to accept that their assigned gender and/or sex does not align with their gender.
• Purposefully using terminology/words that are associated with genders they don't identify with without checking to see if it makes them uncomfortable and/or ignoring their discomfort.
• Excluding someone from an orientation due to being non-binary and/or being attracted to a non-binary individual. For example, claiming non-binary individuals can't be lesbians, claiming that a straight woman can't be attracted to a non-binary individual, etc. This is not always said/done with enbyphobic intent; however, it is incorrect and harmful regardless, as it implies that non-binary identities can't be male/masculine-aligned, female/feminine-aligned, and in turn invalidates non-binary women, non-binary men, multigendered individuals, and many other identities.
• Thinking of/treating a non-binary individual as a binary gender (if/when it does not align with their gender).
• Claiming that one can "tell" who is and isn't non-binary based on harmful stereotypes of what non-binary individuals are "supposed to look like." Similarly, the act of comparing non-binary individuals to drag performers and gender non-conforming women/men (which implies that non-binary individuals are "just GNC women/men").
• Harassing non-binary individuals about what genitals and/or other sex traits they have (regardless of whether or not they want sex reassignment surgery).
• Claiming that if a transmasculine individual presents femininely/masculinely, they can't be a "true" non-binary individual. This also overlaps with GNCphobia.
• Claiming that a non-binary individual "isn't actually non-binary" if they do not use they/them pronouns. This also overlaps with PNCphobia.
• Joking that one identifies as an attack helicopter in order to mock non-binary individuals and claim that their Identities are outlandish and made-up.

Everything on this list can also be done to binary individuals who fit non-binary stereotypes and/or are assumed to be non-binary identifying.

Xenicphobia

Xenicphobia is the dislike of or prejudice against those who use xenogenders/identify with xenogenders (or who one assumes is xenic). Typically, xenicphobia comes from exclusionists within the LGBTQ+ community who see such terms as illogical and/or useless to identify with. They may think that xenogenders identities hold no importance in the LGBTQ+ community and that they are unnecessary. It is a form of transphobia and enbyphobia. This is not to be confused with xenophobia.

Some issues that perpetuate xenicphobia include the following:

• Mocking a xenogender due to it being "strange/odd/weird" or seeming "silly."
• Mocking a xenogender due to it being about a topic one is not fond of (eg. disliking amongusgender because one dislikes Among Us). This behavior implies that it is necessary for one to relate to/like the topics a xenogender is correlated with in order to respect it, which is not the case.
• Claiming that xenogenders are transphobic (despite them being used by plenty of transgender individuals, especially those on the non-binary spectrum).
• Claiming that xenogenders are "personality traits" or "just adding -gender to the end of something someone likes."
• Ignoring that xenogenders are specifically in reference to a metaphor/descriptor for a gender. For example, saying one "cannot be a cat/is not actually a cat" when they identify as catgender, which misses the point of catgender being used to describe how a gender feels, while also perpetuating kinphobia and pluralphobia towards non-human headmates/alterhumans who are cats.
• Claiming that xenogenders relating to animals (such as faunagenders), childhood (such as childgender), and similar are just "excuses to be predatory" and/or are used in order to justify acting on zoophilia, pedophilia, etc.
• Saying that there "doesn't need to be xenogenders" because they "make the community more difficult." This invalidates those who use microlabels, and misses the point of microlabels. Microlabels are not made in order to be remembered by the whole community, but rather, they are made for personal comfort and self identification for individuals/groups amongst the community.
• Claiming that a neurogender is an identity "used to avoid getting therapy/help," when in reality, it is simply used to explain how one's gender is affected by their condition(s).

Everything on this list can also be done to non-xenogender individuals who fit xenogender stereotypes and/or are assumed to be xenogender-identifying.

Oppression to Varsex Individuals

Intersexism

Intersexism, also known as interphobia, is the dislike of or prejudice against those who are intersex (or who one assumes is intersex). More information on this topic is covered on the sexism page; however, some brief examples include the following:

• Pressuring one to alter or hide their sex traits due to them being "unnatural." This also includes non-consentual surgeries often done on intersex youth in order to "fix" them.
• Treating one as if they are a "medical mistake" due to their unique sex.
• Mocking traits that are associated with intersex variations (common examples of this include laughing at close-to-female individuals with beards, treating those with micropenises as less than/claiming they cannot be good at sexual activities/intercourse, mocking male-appearing intersex folks who can get pregnant/menstruate, etc).
• Arguing about the existence of one's sex traits and claiming that "there are only two sexes" and that they are simply a "medical mistake" of some kind.
• Harassing an intersex individual based on what public bathrooms/spaces they use because of their non-traditional sex traits. This is also very common within transphobic individuals.

Everything on this list can also be done to non-intersex individuals who fit common intersex descriptions and/or are assumed to be intersex.

Altersexism

Altersexism is the act of discriminating/oppressing those who are altersex (or who one assumes is altersex). More information on this topic is covered on the sexism page; however, some brief examples include the following:

• Mocking altersex identities when they are "unrealistic." For example, one may mock those who identify as florasex, faunasex, and similar, which not only invalidates their internal sense of self, but also invalidates system members who actually have such traits within the innerworld.
• Pressuring those who have had sex reassignment surgeries to alter or hide their sex traits due to them being "unnatural."
• Arguing about the existence of one's sex identity and claiming that "there are only two sexes" (which is also intersexist).
• Harassing an altersex individual based on what public bathrooms/spaces they use if they have had sex reassignment surgery. This is also very common within transphobic individuals.

Everything on this list can also be done to non-altersex individuals who fit common altersex descriptions and/or are assumed to be altersex.

Oppression to relationships

This section discuses the discrimination/oppression to queer relationships that could be monogamous or non-monogamous. This could be done to those who actually are in these relationships or to one assumes is in these relationships. Examples of this include the following:

• Claiming that someone in a casual relationship and/or someone with breakup-buddies is "using it as an excuse to lead their friends on/using their friends for one's own pleasure."
• Claiming that someone in a wavership as "unloyal" or "indecisive" or claiming that their fluid form of relationship makes them an "unreliable partner."
• Calling someone in an intimaship, casual relationship, and/or someone with breakup buddies "a slut/whore" and/or "impure," which is both queerphobic and whorephobic.
• Claiming that non-partnering, nonamorous, afidelitous, and/or agamous individuals are "incapable of finding love" or are "missing out/living a sad life." If they participate in sexual interactions (without a relationship developing from it), they may be called whorephobic terms and treated in a whorephobic way.

Exclusionism

The exclusionist community is a group of queer individuals who exclude others of certain identities and/or traits based on what they believe to be "really LGBT+" and "not LGBT+ enough." Exclusionism within the LGBTQ+ community is a large issue that separates and isolates members of the community (especially LGBTQ+ youth) in times of need for comfort and support.

Exclusionism leads to many feeling as though they have nowhere to belong, as they do not have a fully conformant identity, but are "not allowed to be queer" either, according to exclusionists.

While criticizing harmful terms (such as the ones listed on the harmful terminology page) is necessary, excluding well-meaning individuals with non-harmful identities does not help the community progress as a union, and instead hinders the community as a whole.

Internalized Queerphobia

Internalized Queerphobia is when an individual within the queer community experiences thoughts/feelings of disgust towards their queer identities (or other queer identities). This is common within queer individuals, especially amongst those raised in queerphobic households.

Some examples of queerphobia include (but are not limited to):

• Having feelings of disgust towards one's queer attractions (for example, a gay man feeling disgusted that they are attracted to men or feeling as though they are a sinner).
• Having feelings of disgust towards other queer individuals (typically when they share an identity with oneself, but this is not a requirement).
• Having thoughts such as "I am a sinner for being queer," "I must be choosing to be this way," "I'm faking my queerness," and "I am disgusting/a pervert/a freak."
• Excluding oneself (or those similar to oneself) for "not being queer enough" or "not belonging" in queer spaces.
• Fakeclaiming one's own identity (eg. "I am not actually a trans woman because I don't experience enough dysphoria/any dysphoria").
• Desperately attempting to appear conformant, even when it hurts themself and others around them. They may even put themself into conversion therapy or try another way to "cure" queerness.
• Feeling shame, guilt, anxiety, and depression in regards to their queerness.
• Distrust or disdain towards other queer individuals as a result of their own insecurities.

Some who suffer from internalized queerphobia may develop mental disorders (typically substance use and depression disorders), unhealthy coping mechanisms (such as self harm), and/or destructive behaviors towards themself, their property, and/or those around them. If one acts on their internalized queerphobia in a way that can harm others (eg. calling gay individuals slurs or comitting hate crimes) then the individual should come to acknowledge their mistakes and apologize/repent for it.

Sometimes, internalized queerphobia becomes very difficult or impossible to stop, and ends up turning queer individuals into extreme and harmful conservatives that attempt to convince themself (and others) that they are fully conformant, oftentimes by treating other LGBTQ+ members negatively. This means that a lot of queerphobes are actually queer themselves, which further perpetuates the cycle of internalized queerphobia.

Forms of Oppression

Legal Gender Change

In many locations, legal gender change (eg. changing one's name/gender information on a driver's license) is difficult to receive. Trans individuals may have to go through months-years of therapy and a number of doctors, as well as pay a large amount of money, simply to be recognized by the government as the individual they are.

Similarly, sex reassignment surgery is required for legal gender change in many locations. This complicates things further, as surgeries are expensive and hard to obtain, and it leaves out transine folks who do not desire any physical changes.

Age of Consent

The age of consent for gay/same-gender relationships is not always equal to the age of consent for opposite-gender relationships. For example, while the age of consent may be 18 for opposite-gender relationships, the age of consent may be 21 for same-gender relationships in some locations.

This does not apply in all locations; however, enough locations have rules such as this implemented for it to be a problem. It implies that queer individuals have to be older/more mature to understand that they are queer or properly consent, which separates same-gender relationships and opposite-gender relationships in an unnecessary manner.

Same-Gender Marriage/Queer Adoption

Asia

In Asia, same-gender/gay-marriage is only legal in Taiwan (the other 47 countries do not allow same-gender marriage and have yet to legalize it). Adoption by same-gender parents (typically same-gender parents) is only legal in Israel.

Australia & The Oceania

In Australia, same-gender/gay-marriage is legal in all territories, as well as adoption by same-gender parents. In New Zealand, New Caledonia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, French Polynesia, and Pitcairn Islands same-gender marriage and adoption by queer parents is legalized.

Meanwhile, in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Easter Island, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, and Tuvalu same-gender marriage and adoption by same-gender parents is not yet legal.

Africa

In Africa, same-gender/gay marriage and adoption by same-gender parents is only legal in Ceuta, Madeira, Melilla, and South Africa (the other 50 countries have yet to legalize it).

Europe

In Europe, same-gender/gay marriage is legal in Austria, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and the UK. This means that the other countries/states in Europe (15+ locations) have yet to legalize same-gender marriage.

Adoption by same-gender parents is legal in Austria, Croatia, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Andorra, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and the UK. This means that the other countries/states in Europe (15+ locations) have yet to legalize same-gender parental adoption.

North America

In North America, same/gender gay marriage and adoption by same-gender parents is legal in Bermuda, Canada, Greenland, the USA, and the Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

In Mexico, same-gender/gay marriage is only legal in Mexico City, Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Tlaxcala, Yucatán, and parts of Guerrero, Querétaro, and Zacatecas. (which is roughly 25 of the 32 states). Adoption by same-gender parents is legal in Mexico City, Aguascalientes, Baja California, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nuevo León, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Veracruz (which is 16 of 32 states).

Central America

In Central America, same-gender/gay marriage and adoption by same-gender parents is not yet legal in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. This means that it is only legal in one location (Costa Rica) out of the entirety of Central America.

South America

In South America, same-gender/gay marriage and adoption by same-gender parents is not yet legal in Bolivia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Same-gender marriage is legal in Ecuador, however adoption by same-gender parents is not.

Same-gender/gay marriage and adoption by same-gender parents is legal in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Uruguay.

Caribbean

In the Caribbean, same-gender/gay marriage and adoption by same-gender parents is only legal in Bonaire, Guadelope, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Sint Eustatius, and the United States Virgin Islands. In the Cayman Islands, adoption by same-gender parents is legal, but same-gender marriage is not.

It is not yet legal in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

The LGBTQ+ Panic Defense

The LGBTQ+ Panic Defense is a "defense" that has been used in court within the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom in order to "justify" the assault and/or murder of LGBTQ+ individuals. The attacker uses this "defense" in order to claim that an LGBTQ+ individual's existence was so "shocking/mortifying/frightening" that they had an uncontrollable urge to harm or kill said individual.

Sadly, this defense has been known to work, and has left many individuals without the justice they deserve for being harmed and discriminated against in such ways. While some locations are banning the use of this defense, there are still locations that allow it, which should not be tolerated. This "defense" implies that LGBTQ+ lives and health are less important, which is not (and should never be seen as) true.

The Gay Panic Defense or Homosexual Advance Defense is a "defense" used in court in which an individual essentially claims that they felt the urge to harm/kill someone for behaving in a "gay manner" (which can include GNC individuals, such as masculine women and feminine men) or by a gay person confessing their feelings for them.

The Trans Panic Defense is a "defense" used in court in which an individual essentially claims that they felt the urge to harm/kill someone for being trans, "appearing" to be trans, having "trans characteristics," and/or behaving in a "trans manner" (which can include GNC individuals as well). This "defense" is often used after a cisgender individual has sexual interactions with a trans individual, and realizes they are trans due to not having sex reassignment surgery (and/or finding out they are trans later). They often claim that they were "mortified/shocked" they could have sexual interactions with a trans individual, which implies that trans individuals are "gross" or "unnatural."

Legality of Queerness

Unlike popular misconceptions, queer individuals still have a risk of being imprisoned, harmed, or even put to death for expressing themselves. This is a very serious topic, especially since many individuals are still at risk, and a majority of the loved ones of those harmed/killed have not received justice for their queer friends/family/partners/etc.

Asia

In Asia, imprisonment for same-gender relationships/intimate activities can be implemented in Lebanon, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, and Syria. Imprisonment specifically for MLM relationships (and not WLW relationships) can be implemented in Bangladesh, Gaza, Kuwait, Singapore, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Death penalty for same-gender relationships/intimate activities can be found in Afghanistan and Iran.

In Brunei, SGA (same-gender attracted) individuals can face death penalty, lashes, caning, and imprisoned. In Chechnya, SGA individuals they have been known to be abducted and sent to concentration camps and are often killed. In Saudi Arabia SGA individuals can face life sentences, fines, castration, torture, and death. In United Arab Emirates SGA individuals can face imprisonment, fines, flogging, execution, chemical castration, forced psychological treatments, beatings, torture, and forced hormone injections. In Yemen, SGA individuals can face stoning, lashing, and imprisonment. In Malaysia, SGA individuals can face fines, prison sentences, and whippings. In Maldives, SGA individuals can face imprisonment, house arrest, lashings, and fines.

Laws regarding transgender individuals being legally allowed to transition/express themselves are unavailable (or unconfirmed) in Abkhazia, Afghanistan, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bhutan, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cyprus, East Timor, Iraq, Laos, Macau, Northern Cyprus, North Korea, Palestine, Qatar, South Ossetia, Turkmenistan, and Yemen.

Transgender identification/gender expression is criminalized/illegal Aceh Province, Brunei, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Australia & The Oceania

In the Oceania and Australia, imprisonment for same-gender relationships/intimate activities can be implemented in the Solomon Islands. Imprisonment specifically for MLM relationships (and not WLW relationships) can be implemented in Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu.

Laws regarding transgender individuals being legally allowed to transition/express themselves are unavailable (or unconfirmed) in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvula, the United States Minor Outlying Islands, and Vanuatu.

Africa

In Africa, imprisonment for same-gender relationships/intimate activities can be implemented in Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Comoros, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, and Zambia. Imprisonment specifically for MLM relationships (and not WLW relationships) can be implemented in Eswatini, Ghana, Mauritius, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe.

In Cameroon, Tanzania, and Uganda, same-gender intimacy is illegal, and there have been cases of vigilante execution and torture towards LGBTQ+ individuals (and those who support them). In Eritrea, same-gender intimacy is illegal, and torture/beatings are known to be legally tolerated.

Death penalty for same-gender relationships/intimate activities can be found in Nigeria (specifically the states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara), Somalia, and Somaliland.

Laws regarding transgender individuals being legally allowed to transition/express themselves are unavailable (or unconfirmed) in Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Rwanda, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Transgender identification/gender expression is criminalized/illegal in Gambia, Malawi, Nigeria, and South Sudan.

Europe

In Europe imprisonment for same-gender relationships/intimate activities is no longer a common practice; however, in Chechnya, gay/same-gender attracted individuals have been known to be abducted and sent to concentration camps due to being queer, and are often killed in said camps.

Laws regarding transgender individuals being legally allowed to transition/express themselves are unavailable (or unconfirmed) in Abkhazia, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands, Kosovo, San Marino, South Ossetia, Transnistria, Vatican City, Monaco,

Transgender identification/gender expression is criminalized/illegal in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Hungary, and Liechtenstein.

The Americas & The Caribbean

In the USA, imprisonment for same-gender relationships/intimate activities can no longer be implemented. Despite this, discrimination and harm towards SGA individuals is common in the USA, and while gender change is legal, transgender individuals still face difficulty transitioning due to limitations (as well as higher-than-average prices that are found in the USA compared to other locations).

In Mexico, imprisonment for same-gender relationships/intimate activities can no longer be implemented. Laws regarding transgender individuals being legally allowed to transition/express themselves is ambiguous and is pending in all states. It is currently only legally allowed in Mexico City, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, the State of Mexico and Tlaxcala.

In other locations of North America, imprisonment for same-gender relationships/intimate activities is not implemented. Laws regarding transgender individuals being legally allowed to transition/express themselves are unavailable (or unconfirmed) in Bermuda.

In Central America, imprisonment for same-gender relationships/intimate activities is not implemented in any location; however, laws regarding transgender individuals being legally allowed to transition/express themselves are unavailable (or unconfirmed) in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

In South America, imprisonment for same-gender relationships/intimate activities can be implemented in Guyana. Laws regarding transgender individuals being legally allowed to transition/express themselves are unavailable (or unconfirmed) in Falkland Islands, Guyana, Paraguay, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Suriname, and Venezuela.

In the Caribbean, imprisonment for same-gender relationships/intimate activities can be implemented in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Imprisonment specifically for MLM relationships (and not WLW relationships) can be implemented in Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia. Laws regarding transgender individuals being legally allowed to transition/express themselves are unavailable (or unconfirmed) in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.

Jobs/Schools/Homes

Family Life/Home Life

Family/home life for queer individuals is a very difficult subject, as many queer individuals grow up in unsafe households and/or unsafe families that are, in some way, queerphobic. While this isn't the case for all queer individuals, it is a case for a vast amount of them, and it often leads to abuse and/or trauma from one's own family/caretakers.

In one survey, it was found that 67% of the answering LGBTQ+ youth had heard family members make queerphobic statements/remarks. In another survey, 16% of the questioned LGBTQ+ youth reported feeling unsafe at home, and 1 in every 4 questioned reported being unable to access mental health care (this could have been due to family, price, or something else).

One study shows that around 40% of homeless youth are in the LGBTQ+ community, which often times is due to the family disowning/abandoning them due to their true identity/identities.

School Life

Many schools are not very open/friendly for queer individuals, which can make education and socialization difficult. Many queer individuals face bullying and discrimination within school. While this isn't the case for all queer individuals, it is a case for a vast amount of them, and it often leads to abuse and/or trauma from one's own family/caretakers.

In one survey, it was found that only 26% of the questioned LGBTQ+ youth felt safe at school, meaning that the majority of queer youth feels unsafe in their educational environments, due to either teachers or peers. Similarly, in another survey, it was found that 34% of the questioned LGBTQ+ youth experienced bullying at school, and roughly 1 in every 10 LGBTQ+ youth were threatened or injured with a weapon at school.

One survey shows that half of the answering LGBTQ+ students felt unsafe at school due to their sexual orientation, a third felt unsafe due to their gender identity/expression, and half have experienced queerphobic remarks from school staff. The survey also shows that 74% of the answering LGBTQ+ students experienced verbal harassment, over a third experienced physical harassment, and 16% experienced physical assault. The same survey also suggests that LGBTQ+ students are three times more likely to miss school due to experiencing discrimination/abuse and are more likely to have lower grades due to the struggles they face.

Jobs

LGBTQ+ individuals often face harassment and discrimination within workspaces by co-workers, customers, and even bosses based on them being queer.

There have also been cases in which workspaces have not hired someone based on them being queer. Similarly, in a multitude of locations, queer individuals tend to experience less pay than conformant individuals, especially if they are female or transgender.

Harassment/Assault/Abuse

Violence and torment (physical or mental) towards the LGBTQ+ community is sadly not uncommon. This is due to discrimination, lack of protection from those around them, and/or a lack of love/support leading to LGBTQ+ individuals entering dangerous situations. It has been estimated that queer individuals are four times more likely to face acts of violence than conformant individuals.

Domestic violence is a topic that the LGBTQ+ community does not typically receive attention with. It is estimated that 43.8% of lesbian women, 61.1% of bisexual/m-spec women, 26% of gay men, and 37.3% of bisexual/m-spec men experience rape, stalking, and/or physical violence from an intimate partner. Transgender individuals are more likely to face domestic violence due to their partner being transphobic in some way, and the same goes for queer individuals that are black or otherwise POC.

Rape/sexual assault is another topic that the LGBTQ+ community does not typically receive attention with. An estimated 49% of bisexual/m-spec women are rape survivors (22% of this rape being from intimate partners), 13% of lesbian women are rape survivors, 40% of gay men and 47% of bisexual/m-spec men are survivors of sexual violence other than rape, and 47% of transgender individuals are sexual assault survivors. Queer POC are more commonly sexually assaulted than white queer individuals.

Harassment, especially on the internet/social media, is a sadly common experience for LGBTQ+ individuals that are open in expression, relationships, gender, and/or attraction. In one survey for LGBTQ+ social media users, 64% answered that they have faced online harassment based on the fact that they are queer.

LGBTQ+ youth face violence/torment often, especially in social spaces (such as school) where they are openly LGBTQ+ (or outed as LGBTQ+). In one survey, 18% of the questioned LGBTQ+ youth reported experiencing physical/dating violence. This survey also found that 18% of the questioned LGBTQ+ youth reported experiencing sexual assault.

Conversion Therapy

Conversion Therapy (also known as Reparative Therapy) is a form of abuse (typically mental, but sometimes physical and/or sexual) performed on queer individuals, typically for an extended period of time (several weeks to years) in order to "fix them" and "make their queerness go away."

The term "therapy" is very misleading, as this practice has been disproven to help, and has shown to do more harm than good, causing trauma and neurodivergence to form within individuals of the queer identity. Conversion therapy can involve a multitude of different forms of torture, assault, harassment, humiliation, and mental berating.

While this practice is outdated and disproven, it is still practiced (privately or openly) in a multitude of locations. More information on conversion therapy can be found on these two sites:

• Conversion Therapy - Wikipedia
• The Dangers of Conversion Therapy (This article mostly uses USA-based information; however, a majority of it can apply to conversion therapy in any location.)

Queer Individuals in Military

Queer individuals are, in many locations, not allowed to participate in the military due to being seen as "incapable" or "untrustworthy" or just generally for queerphobic reasons/laws. This is especially directed at transgender individuals.

In Asia, queer individuals are only allowed to serve in the military in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Israel, the British Indian Ocean Territory, Nepal, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The other locations have either banned it or are yet to confirm whether or not it is legal/allowed.

In the Oceania (which includes Australia), queer individuals are allowed to serve in the military in all locations except for Tonga and Papua New Guinea. It is unconfirmed as to whether it is allowed/legal in Fiji and Vanuatu.

In Africa, queer individuals are only allowed to serve in the military in the Canary Islands, Ceuta, the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Madeira, Mayotte, Melilla, Réunion, Saint Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and South Africa. The other locations have either banned it or are yet to confirm whether or not it is legal/allowed.

In Europe, queer individuals are allowed to serve in the military in all locations except for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Northern Cyprus, Russia, and Turkey. It is unconfirmed as to whether it is allowed/legal in Abkhazia, Artsakh, Georgia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria. In Belarus, queer individuals are banned from the military when there is peace, but allowed when there is war.

In Mexico, queer individuals are in a "legal limbo" in terms of joining the military, as it is pending in all states. In the USA, lesbians, gays, vincians, m-spec, and a-spec individuals are allowed in the military under the policy of "don't ask, don't tell," essentially making those with queer attraction hide their orientation in order to be allowed in the military. Transgender individuals are allowed to be in the military. Openly intersex individuals and openly GNC individuals are banned from joining the military forces. In all other North American locations, queer individuals are allowed in the military.

In Central America, queer individuals are not allowed to serve in the military in Belize and Honduras. It is unconfirmed as to whether it is allowed/legal in Guatemala and Nicaragua. This means in all of Central America, is only confirmed to be legal in El Salvador.

In South America, queer individuals are not allowed to serve in the military in Venezuela. It is unconfirmed as to whether it is allowed/legal in Ecuador and Suriname. It is legal in all other South American locations.

In the Caribbean, queer individuals are allowed to serve in the military in all locations except for Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.

LGBTQ+ Mental Health

A large number of the LGBTQ+ community has been shown to have a typically low level of self-esteem, self-worth, and oftentimes end up with depression, anxiety, trauma disorders, and similar mental issues due to the discrimination, oppression, and unjust ways they are treated.

An analysis done in 2020 suggests that 54% of LGBTQ+ individuals have been diagnosed with an eating disorder at least once in their life, with an additional 21% suspecting they had an eating disorder (but not having a diagnosis for it).

According to one study, around 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ adults experience mental health issues, compared to 1 in every 5 conformant adults, which suggests that LGBTQ+ individuals are (in this current day and time) more likely to face issues regarding their mental health. In that same study, it was found that (in the USA) an estimated 40% of transgender individuals have attempted suicide at least once, compared to the 5% of individuals in the general (USA) population. It was also discovered that an estimated 15% of LGBTQ+ individuals suffer from substance use disorders.

LGBTQ+ Youth

In one survey, 39% of questioned LGBTQ+ youth stated that they had felt suicidal within the year prior and 71% stated that they had felt sad/hopeless. It is estimated that LGBTQ+ youth are three times more likely to be suicidal than conformant youth.

Another survey found that, according to the answers received, LGBTQ+ youth are 1.75 times more likely to develop anxiety and depression than conformant youth, while non-binary youth are 2.4 times more likely.

Another survey found that 77% of the questioned LGBTQ+ youth reported experiencing depression and 95% reported having trouble sleeping at night.

How to Help

In this section, we will cover ways to assist the LGBTQ+ community with the issues they face. Anyone can participate in anything suggested here, as one does not have to be LGBTQ+ to be helpful/supportive. Allies are highly appreciated and needed for the queer community to make progress.

Donations

Note: if one knows of any more reliable donations for Asia, the Pacific Islands, the Oceania/Australia, Africa, Europe, (non-USA parts of) North America, and/or South America, please either add it to this page or contact a member of staff to add it themself.

Listed here are sites where one can donate to help the LGBT+ community. Any amount of money donated to these site are appreciated and one's life, relationships, home, job, and more may be saved from it.

If one is unable to donate, it is not suggested to do so; however, if one has spare money, and is able to provide assistance, it would be highly appreciated.

Some global/international LGBTQ+ foundations include the following:

• GlobalGiving: a site that gathers and collects donations of all kinds, including to LGBTQ+ causes in a multitude of locations.
• OutRight Action International: a foundation focused on helping LGBTQ+ individuals across a multitude of nations.
• ILGA: a foundation focused on LGBTQ+ equality worldwide.
• Human Rights Campaign: a foundation focused on making important changes (in workplaces, medical spaces, etc) to make them inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community globally.
• It Gets Better Project: a foundation focused on helping LGBTQ+ youth all around the globe.
• Human Dignity Trust: a foundation focused on decriminalizing LGBTQ+ individuals and creating a safe and equal world for the community.
• Asylum Connect: a foundation focused on supporting LGBTQ+ individuals who wish to flee their home country due to anti-queerness that takes place there. It is specifically focused on helping LGBTQ+ individuals safely make it to Canada, Mexico, or the USA and assist them on starting a new life.

Some Asian and Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ foundations include the following:

• NQAPIA: a foundation focused on equality for LGBTQ+ Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. It also helps Asian immigrants and promotes an end to Asian racism.
• Keshet: a foundation focused on equality for LGBTQ+ Jews living within Israel.

Some Australian LGBTQ+ foundations include the following:

• Pride Foundation Australia: a foundation focused on equality and support for LGBTQ+ individuals in Australia.
• The Equality Project: another foundation focused on equality and support for LGBTQ+ individuals in Australia.

Some African LGBTQ+ foundations include the following:

• FARUG: a foundation focused on equality/support for women in Uganda with queer attraction.
• SMUG: an organization focused on LGBTQ+ rights and support in Uganda.

Some European LGBTQ+ foundations include the following:

• LGBT Foundation: a foundation focused on equality and support for LGBTQ+ individuals in the UK.

Some USA LGBTQ+ foundations include the following:

• The Trevor Project: a foundation focused on preventing suicide within the LGBTQ+ community in the USA.
• Stonewall Community Foundation: a foundation focused on equality and safety for LGBTQ+ individuals in the USA.
• Family Equality: a foundation focused on equality for LGBTQ+ families (typically queer parents) and/or those in the community who plan to form families in the USA.
• SAGE: a foundation focused on equality for LGBTQ+ elders and the unique struggles they face in the USA.
• Point Foundation: a foundation focused on equality, support, and successful lives for LGBTQ+ students in the USA.
• Immigration Equality: a foundation focused on equality and support for immigrated LGBTQ+ individuals in the USA.

Some South American LGBTQ+ foundations include the following:

• Colombia Diverse: a foundation focused on equality for LGBTQ+ individuals in Colombia.
• Triángulo Foundation: a foundation focused on equality for LGBTQ+ individuals in Spain.

Advocation and Spreading Awareness

In this section, we will discuss advocation and spreading awareness, and how to do these properly and affectively to those around oneself/within social spaces.

Clubs/Groups

In many social spaces (such as school) queer individuals tend to feel isolated and alone. Some ways to prevent this isolation is by creating inclusive and safe spaces (such as LGBTQ+ study groups, queer mental health support groups, etc) and/or creating spaces that bring awareness to the issues LGBTQ+ individuals face (such as clubs dedicated to LGBTQ+ advocation and awareness).

This helps the queer community find places they feel safe in, helps bring them out of social isolation, and brings more conformant individuals into allyship.

Fictional Content

When creating fictional content (such as video games, movies/shows, books/comics, etc) one way to assist the LGBTQ+ community is by involving queer characters or queer themes. This helps normalize the queer community to audiences and is especially helpful when creating content directed towards children/teens, as it educates and normalizes it to the younger generations.

Although creating queer characters is appreciated and necessary it must be done in a manner in which the characters involved are not based on harmful stereotypes. It is also recommended to make queer characters of color, as QPOC are highly unrepresented; however, this is another thing that needs to be done carefully in order not to misrepresent the POC community.

Researching an identity and asking those with said identity about their experiences is recommended when making a queer character. However, if one does have queer experiences themselves, and wishes to create fictional content, they tend to make characters that share the same identity. Even if one is queer, it is recommended they do research, especially if they are creating a character that is queer in a different way than they are.

Education

Educating oneself on queer identities and queer experiences is a good way to show support, especially when one uses said education in order to speak up for the community and teach those around them about queer individuals.

If one is feeling confused or curious about an identity, how it's experienced, and its history, it is encouraged for them to ask those within the community about it (preferably by those who identify with it) and share what is learned with those around oneself. This creates an encouraging and educational environment that others can participate in.

If one is a parent, caretaker, or otherwise has young individuals in their lives, educating them on the LGBTQ+ community can be a great way to normalize it for them and give them a sense of understanding of themselves and others at a young age. Gender-neutral parenting and non-conformant parenting is a good way to do this and has been shown to have tremendous positive affects on young children.

Peaceful Protesting

Peaceful Protesting is the act of protesting for a movement (or against a negative movement) in a manner that does not cause destruction in any way, shape, or form. In some cases, protesting needs a license, so it is best to research and be sure one is not committing an illegal act by protesting unlicensed.

Some key elements to safe and peaceful protesting include the following:

• Create a sign that represents what one is protesting against. For example, one may write "Intersex lives are important." Try and keep the message short and make the letters large/bold.
• Bring a group. Do not go protesting alone, as one is at a higher risk of being harmed when alone. A group is safer and also tends to draw more attention from the surrounding public.
• Know the laws regarding the LGBTQ+ community within one's area, as well as the laws regarding protesting. Use the knowledge of both of these in order to protest effectively and safely. This information can be brought up as defenses if one is wrongly arrested.
• Avoid protesting on private property in order to avoid facing a lawsuit.
• Wear protective gear, such as shoes that will protect one's feet, a face mask, eye protection, sunscreen, and similar. There have been cases of police officers pepper spraying protestors, and this should be kept in mind when preparing.
• Pack food, water, and extra protective gear, but make sure it is not too heavy. Park a car/ride far away from the general space of protesting in order to avoid traffic jams and for an easy getaway.

Online Protesting is the act of holding a protest online/in online spaces. This is best done on social media (such as Tumblr, Instagram, Twitter, etc) where word can easily spread and grow. One may create a hashtag for their movement (for example, someone protesting for altersex individuals might make a hashtag saying "#AltersexEquality" that protestors may use).

Online protesting is useful and a lot safer than offline protesting, as one is not at a risk of being assaulted or arrested by police. However, this does not mean protesting offline should be removed completely, as both online and offline protesting have different levels of affect and notability.